Lyndon Baines Johnson(August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973) Vice President to John F. Kennedy 1960-1963 President 1963-1969 Vice President: Hubert Humphrey (1965-1969) Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson came into office during a stressful time for America. Kennedy had just been assassinated and America was still in a big mess with their foreign affairs, mainly fighting in Vietnam. However, he did a fairly good job, making many good changes for our country but also some bad. In my mind these bad were few and large, somewhat counteracting the good. I would have to give Johnson the grade of a B-. The initial goals of Johnson when he got into office were to continue the policies of Kennedy. He did this efficiently by passing legislation that Kennedy supported such as his stalled tax bill. During his campaigning in 1964 after the Tonkin Gulf episode, Johnson stated that he wanted “no wider war” which he later went back against. Johnson had a good relationship with Congress. He was given a blank check to use for future force in Southeast Asia during his first years as President. In his second term, there was a 2-1 majority in both houses of democrats. So much legislation was passes that it was comparable to the New Deal days. I believe that the most positive action of Johnson’s administration was the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This outlawed the ballot denying to blacks that came with literacy tests and intimidation. Also, federal reinforcements were sent to the southern states to make sure the law was being followed. Although this act didn’t stop discrimination overnight, it made a great stride towards equality in America. In contrast, I feel that the worst action was keeping in the war. Even though the war seemed impossible and morale was low, Johnson kept increasing the money being spent and kept sending over more troops. The impression America was making on other countries wasn’t positive either, they saw a big and powerful America hostilely attacking the small and underdeveloped country. Johnson’s administration greatly influenced future generations through all the social reform that was made domestically. The Big Four legislative achievements included his aid to education, medical care for the elderly and poor, immigration reform, and the new voting rights bill. So funds were given to students, Medicare became a reality, the quota system for immigration was tossed and as mentioned earlier discrimination was outlawed in the voting system. The country was better off at the end of Johnson’s terms, with all of the good change he made for the people. If his foreign policies were better I would give him an A, however I thought they weren’t all that desirable leaving him with a B-. "Lyndon B. Johnson." Wikipedia. 18 Dec. 2008 <http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lyndon_b._johnson>. "Lyndon B. Johnson." The White House. 18 Dec. 2008 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/lj36.html Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. American Pageant : Advanced Placement. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin College Division, 2001.
Vice President to John F. Kennedy 1960-1963
President 1963-1969
Vice President: Hubert Humphrey (1965-1969)
Democrat
Lyndon B. Johnson came into office during a stressful time for America. Kennedy had just been assassinated and America was still in a big mess with their foreign affairs, mainly fighting in Vietnam. However, he did a fairly good job, making many good changes for our country but also some bad. In my mind these bad were few and large, somewhat counteracting the good. I would have to give Johnson the grade of a B-.
The initial goals of Johnson when he got into office were to continue the policies of Kennedy. He did this efficiently by passing legislation that Kennedy supported such as his stalled tax bill. During his campaigning in 1964 after the Tonkin Gulf episode, Johnson stated that he wanted “no wider war” which he later went back against.
Johnson had a good relationship with Congress. He was given a blank check to use for future force in Southeast Asia during his first years as President. In his second term, there was a 2-1 majority in both houses of democrats. So much legislation was passes that it was comparable to the New Deal days.
I believe that the most positive action of Johnson’s administration was the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This outlawed the ballot denying to blacks that came with literacy tests and intimidation. Also, federal reinforcements were sent to the southern states to make sure the law was being followed. Although this act didn’t stop discrimination overnight, it made a great stride towards equality in America.
In contrast, I feel that the worst action was keeping in the war. Even though the war seemed impossible and morale was low, Johnson kept increasing the money being spent and kept sending over more troops. The impression America was making on other countries wasn’t positive either, they saw a big and powerful America hostilely attacking the small and underdeveloped country.
Johnson’s administration greatly influenced future generations through all the social reform that was made domestically. The Big Four legislative achievements included his aid to education, medical care for the elderly and poor, immigration reform, and the new voting rights bill. So funds were given to students, Medicare became a reality, the quota system for immigration was tossed and as mentioned earlier discrimination was outlawed in the voting system.
The country was better off at the end of Johnson’s terms, with all of the good change he made for the people. If his foreign policies were better I would give him an A, however I thought they weren’t all that desirable leaving him with a B-.
"Lyndon B. Johnson." Wikipedia. 18 Dec. 2008 <http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lyndon_b._johnson>.
"Lyndon B. Johnson." The White House. 18 Dec. 2008 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/lj36.html
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. American Pageant : Advanced
Placement. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin College Division, 2001.